The tempest has blown over and the dust is just settling down on the Padmaavat controversy, when back home in Kerala another storm is brewing with matters reaching boiling point. Ever since the announcement of the Kamal-directed biopic film Aami, based on the life of Kamala Das starring Manju Warrier, it has been under the scanner for a number of reasons. The well-know iconic author/poet who converted to Islam in 1999 and her tell-all memoir My Story had courted controversy even when she was alive. The same fate seems to be following Aami, with the latest being a petition filed in the High Court by lawyer K.P. Ramachandran, seeking a direction to the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) to not clear Aami, alleging that it promotes love jihad.
The petition further states that the film’s emphasis on the religious conversion aspect would send a wrong message to society at a time when love jihad has become a grave concern to society. The film has not yet reached the theatres with just the trailer and songs being released a few days back. At this juncture, it is only pertinent to point out that one cannot judge a film by its trailer. Which is exactly what director Kamal emphasises. He says, “It is just the trailer that has been released. Based on just those visuals how can a person file a petition? The love jihad angle has been cited in the petition but has the person seen the entire film? I would even ask what credibility the person has to file this petition.”
Kamal points out that it is high time the courts not take up petitions that seek to malign a film before it is released. He says, “There is a lot of sweat, toil and work that the cast and crew undertake to turn a film into reality— so the activities of a lone person can throw cold water over months of hard work and render all that toil useless.” When questioned about Aami taking the same route that Padmaavat has taken, Kamal informs that he had watched Padmaavat and that he found nothing objectionable about the film. “After viewing the film I was actually wondering what the hue and cry was for. The groups who protested got their bit of publicity,” he remarks.
Incidentally, while the petition filed by Ramachandran is asking for a denial of the censor certificate, Kamal informs that the regional office of CBFC has already cleared the movie, pending the issuance of the certificate from the central office of the body. The hearing for this is on February 6. “If the Censor Board had found something objectionable or thought the film was promoting religious conversions then the certificate would not have been issued” he reasons. He is hoping for a positive censor verdict on February 6 from the central office of the body.
Film Critic and former Vice-Chairman at Kerala State Chalachitra Academy V. K. Joseph too opines that there is no justification in filing a petition before a film is released. “The courts should not accept such petitions before a film’s release,” he says, adding, “Even after a film’s release such petitions should not be entertained. Historical figures, personalities and events are interpreted in different ways by each person. Yes, Kamal is making a film. But what is the justification if I file a petition saying that the famous personality’s depiction is not what I inferred. A creative person sees events or persons from many angles and what he brings on screen is his perspective!” Joseph says that if living, famous or historical persons are depicted it be essential that facts not be distorted or lies be told. “A little bit of fiction and fantasy is okay to add richness to a character but the essence of the person should be retained.”
While Kamala Das still has the power to court controversy posthumously, no one can deny her iconoclast status. So much so that Google celebrated her through a Google Doodle by artist Manjit Thapp. Meanwhile, Sanalkumar Sasidharan has high hopes on the HC ruling that could offer redemption to the screening of S Durga. In another two weeks comes a re-examination to let the movie go for a wide release. The director has lost more than a year battling the hurdles to take his movie to the viewers. He speaks about petty reasons that damage a movie. “Mob has been like this forever. They turn aggressive upon realising their potential to get things done. They censor a movie much before it is released and dictate the dos and don’ts. It shows there lacks a progressive stand from the government. The strict restrictions over filmmaking in Iran turned out to be a norm later. The people who are up in arms have no other intention than causing damage to a film,” he says.
(With input from Meera Manu)
